Dr. Casey Fiesler
@cfiesler.bsky.social
information science professor (tech ethics + internet stuff)
kind of a content creator (elsewhere also @professorcasey)
though not influencing anyone to do anything except maybe learn things
she/her
more: casey.prof
Casey Fiesler is an American associate professor at University of Colorado Boulder who studies technology policy, internet law and policy, and public communication.
Source: Wikipedia
Computer science
40%
Communication & Media Studies
18%
You don't on LinkedIn either though? I mean I see it from lots of folks, including academics.
Interesting I haven't noticed it here so much. :)
Is this common in other writing contexts as well and I'm just not noticing/seeing? Someone mentioned X, and I'm not there anymore so that I might explain my lack of knowledge.
It makes everything there read so similarly that I can't help but wonder if it's (a) an intentional attempt to emulate a style that seems to be effective for engagement and/or (b) an artifact of using gen AI to assist in writing or editing and the "LinkedIn post" pattern is *strong*.
OK I'm afraid if I ask this on LinkedIn it's going to come off as a personal attack to some folks, so asking here first:
What is with this style of writing?
With all the rhetorical questions. And the line breaks.
One sentence per paragraph.
Maybe you recognize it. And I only see it on LinkedIn.
What is with this style of writing?
With all the rhetorical questions. And the line breaks.
One sentence per paragraph.
Maybe you recognize it. And I only see it on LinkedIn.
Ah Drew beat me to it! Great video. I will probably still make one of my own tomorrow. :)
Another reason it’s so important that people understand that generative AI is not magic: how many people seem to think that it can discern exactly what someone’s face looks like under a mask. :-/
Yeah I mean "well Casey even though you're correct that much AI output is slop I personally think that in the long run AI will be beneficial" is a very different comment than "you're just a hater" LOL
I cannot tell you how often my social media comments are full of "you're just an AI hater" which (a) critique is not "hate" (eye roll); and (b) they then don't actually address what they find objectionable or incorrect about some point I've made about AI limitations.
Not sure why this dross, dated Dec 1, seems to be circulating now (and why it didn't cross my feed a month ago), but wow what a terrible essay.
A few comments, in a short 🧵>>
bigthink.com/the-present/...
A few comments, in a short 🧵>>
bigthink.com/the-present/...
The rise of AI denialism
Computer scientist Louis Rosenberg argues that dismissing AI as a “bubble” or mere “slop” ignores the tectonic technological shift now unfolding.
bigthink.com
My first thought when scanning this article (which Emily also points out in this thread): there is a difference between "denialism" and "resistance" or even "criticism." Also hard to argue against a critique of "breathless claims from pundits and influencers" when none of those claims are cited...
You know that's a great point! I'll add that to the resources. Even if it's not something that would necessarily be needed for my undergrad courses (where they're not e.g. writing a full paper) it would definitely help them in other contexts.
I basically made this the first time I taught a class and this happened -- I don't think that instructors should be evaluating students on things they don't teach them or at least tell them.
I have no way of providing AI use (and I think false positives are unacceptable) and nor do I want to be the AI police, so I grade based on the work itself. Something like fabricated citations will result in a poor grade regardless, but in cases like that I also talk to them about it.
We talk a lot about this in class, but here is my AI policy in the syllabus for this class. (Which again is not a class that teaches how to write!)
Hmmm that's a good point. I was thinking of this re: showing them how to do it and making sure that if they ARE using a direct quote that they're making sure to indicate that. Probably worth a clarification. (I could also probably have a better example where it makes more obvious sense to do so!)
Well as it says in this document, if information comes from an LLM they have to cite it, but also since they need to be verifying information from LLMs in most cases they'd have something else to cite too!
I created this probably 6 years ago, but just made some updates and included some additional detail/guidance in part because I'm teaching lower division undergraduates for the first time in quite a while.
Feel free to use/adapt this however you like, and happy to take suggestions for improvements!
Feel free to use/adapt this however you like, and happy to take suggestions for improvements!
Professor Fiesler's Brief Guide to Scholarly Citation
Professor Fiesler’s Brief Guide to Scholarly Citation In any academic writing, it is important that you are properly citing your sources. This isn’t about formatting or making sure that you’re follow...
docs.google.com
Sharing in case this is useful:
I teach courses where students have to write, but I am not teaching them to write. I have learned that especially for undergraduates (and sometimes grad students) I cannot assume that they understand how to cite, so I made this:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I teach courses where students have to write, but I am not teaching them to write. I have learned that especially for undergraduates (and sometimes grad students) I cannot assume that they understand how to cite, so I made this:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Casey Fiesler
The rise of AI denialism
Computer scientist Louis Rosenberg argues that dismissing AI as a “bubble” or mere “slop” ignores the tectonic technological shift now unfolding.
bigthink.com
Not sure why this dross, dated Dec 1, seems to be circulating now (and why it didn't cross my feed a month ago), but wow what a terrible essay.
A few comments, in a short 🧵>>
bigthink.com/the-present/...
A few comments, in a short 🧵>>
bigthink.com/the-present/...
My management is that it’s not really a side hustle because I’ve always made very very little money and don’t particularly care if I make any :)
I get the points you’re making, I just disagree with you! (And also am pointing out the difference between my students and the general public in terms of my educational goals.)
Nope not at all! Also if it gets worse than this kind of thing I’ll reevaluate. I mostly just find comments about my appearance to be pathetic and sad. On other platforms it’s usually about my glasses though. :)
Yes I’m aware. I also can’t do anymore on that point than myself and my colleagues already have (speaking to people higher up making these decisions) but I can at least assure you that my students know about the fediverse.
As a single data point someone commented on one of my videos about AI on FB recently expressing that they had no idea AI can make things up. I get your point but I personally think that’s a net positive.
I don’t think that the people who are explicitly seeking out education are necessarily the ones who need it the most.
As for my students, I can talk to them directly about costs and benefits of social media platforms. Also my students for the most part are not on FB because it’s “for old people.”
As for my students, I can talk to them directly about costs and benefits of social media platforms. Also my students for the most part are not on FB because it’s “for old people.”
So is mine. And actually the reason I started the page (which was easy to do because it’s cross posting from Instagram) was that someone said to me “you know who I want to see your content? My dad. But he’s only on Facebook” haha.
Oh it’s definitely not. I barely use FB at all anymore in a personal capacity. This is my public page just for educational content.
Given that they’re commenting on a public Facebook page it’s entirely possible that their comment will show up in their friends’ feeds. :)
FAQ: ugh Casey why are you even posting on Facebook especially if it’s so toxic?
There is an older demographic on Facebook who are not on other platforms and who may not be seeing any educational content about e.g. AI anywhere else.
There is an older demographic on Facebook who are not on other platforms and who may not be seeing any educational content about e.g. AI anywhere else.
Because I’m an educator, and this is where people who need education are.